Karnataka ad stars farmer who killed himself

Bangalore: In Karnataka, a huge embarrassment has cropped up for the ruling BJP party.

A farmer shown in a recent Karnataka Shining advertisement had committed suicide last year after he failed to repay his loans.

The farmer's family is outraged with the government's insensitivity.

This ad has left the Karnataka BJP red-faced. It has a smiling farmer singing praises of the Yeddyurappa government.

But the bitter truth is that the farmer, Nagaraju from Mandya district, committed suicide 18 months back because he couldn't pay off his debts. Nagaraju's family say the ad shows how insensitive the party is to farmers' plight.

Bhavya, Nagaraju's daughter said, "I have left my studies because I have to support my mother and my younger brother. The government has done nothing for us."

The advertisement has only given the opposition more ammunition to target the Yeddyurappa government.

HD Kumaraswamy, former chief minister said, "The chief minister took an oath when he became the chief minister to protect farmers, but he has done nothing for them."

The BJP is now struggling to explain its Karnataka shining ad that has gone horribly wrong.

DB Chandre Gowda, MP, North Bangalore said, "Its not an embarrassment, I don't want to give any comments, farmers committing suicide is a universal thing and its not new to Karnataka."

Coming just ahead of the taluk and zilla panchayat elections and after all the scams, this is one embarrassment the party could have done without at the moment.

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